The Mountain Kitchen Celebrates 4-Years!!

Have you ever wondered how the Mountain Kitchen came to be? It’s kind of a crazy story really…

It was 4-years ago today!

4-years ago today, on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2013, battling terrible smoker’s flu and with a passion for food, I made my very first blog post here at The Mountain Kitchen.

I like coming up with my own dishes, and I liked the idea of keeping a journal of my recipes I would make. I also wanted a way to share the recipes with others. So on February 1st, 2013, I sat down and created The Mountain Kitchen. Like most of the things I’ve ever done in my life, I jumped into a vast sea of the unknown. I fumbled around WordPress, trying to figure out how to do this whole blogging thing. (The funny thing is that part hasn’t changed very much in my four years, I’m still fumbling.)

At first, this blog helped me turn useless energy from smoking cigarettes into something fun and positive. I am still smoke-free today. I have not had a single cigarette since January 01, 2013, at 10:58 p.m. Although, according to my handy little phone app Cessation Nation, I have saved over $5000 (based on prices 4 years ago); by now, I would have smoked over 23,000 cigarettes! After 22 years of having cigarettes in my life, I still have cravings to smoke, but I won’t allow myself to light up. Quitting smoking was the hardest thing I have ever done; why would I ever want to put myself through that hell again? I’m glad it is behind me. If you have been trying to quit smoking, I know what you are going through.

Little did I know that this blog would be such a blessing. When I started this blog four years ago, I really didn’t know I would like blogging so much. Writing this blog has been a great experience. It has given me some great opportunities, and most importantly, it has given me some pretty great friendships. I did not expect to make so many new friends. I love communicating with people from different walks of life all over the world. Sharing experiences with others and then learning from them and their experiences. It is a pleasure to share our recipes and stories with you, and we are grateful to you for reading.

Not only am I excited about our blogiversary, but I am also excited because 5 years ago tomorrow, February 3rd, 2012 David, His Royal Highness, and I moved into our mountain home!

In 2008, we took a leap of faith to make our dream of living in the mountains we love come true. We fell in love with the mountains, and they were calling us. We were miserable living in Virginia Beach, and one day I came home, and I said to David:

“Why don’t we go live where we vacation. Let’s move to the mountains!”

It was not easy making our dream come true and there were many times we didn’t think it was going to be possible.

We have truly been blessed! Our dream came true and it was even more than we expected.

If you haven’t read our story: “What Staycation Really Means,” please let me share our story with you. It will give you proof that through faith, love, and determination, dreams really do come true.  

You just have to BELIEVE!

Thank you for stopping by to visit us at TheMountainKitchen.com. Your visits are what makes all of this so worthwhile.

Yes, YOU!

You, the person that took 5 minutes out of their day to see what kind of crazy meals David and I made, what His Royal Highness has been up to, our life here up on the Blue Ridge, or to read the crazy stories like the one about bears and goats.

As always, our wish for you is that you get a good laugh, learn something new and find something good to eat while you are here. Then take it with you and share it with others.

Thank you for visiting The Mountain Kitchen and letting us be part of your day.